Most senior veterans and their spouses (or widows) don't know about a wonderful, non-taxable benefit called Aid & Attendance.
The VA Aid & Attendance Special Pension is a very important benefit. Unfortunately, it is not very well publicized.
The Aid and Attendance (A&A) Special Pension provides benefits for veterans and surviving spouses who require the regular attendance of another person to assist in eating, bathing, dressing and undressing or taking care of the needs of nature. It also includes individuals who are blind or a patient in a nursing home because of mental or physical incapacity. Assisted care in an assisting living facility also qualifies.
The A&A Pension can provide up to $1,632 per month to a veteran, $1,055 per month to a surviving spouse, or $1,949 per month to a couple*.
ELIGIBILITY FOR THE AID & ATTENDANCE PENSION
Any War-Time Veteran with 90 days of active duty, 1 day beginning or ending during a period of War, is eligible to apply for the Aid & Attendance Special Pension. A surviving spouse (marriage must have ended due to death of veteran) of a War-Time Veteran may also apply. The individual applying must qualify both medically and financially. To see the periods of war that have been qualified by Congress, check their web site.
Veterans or their widows may be eligible for additional income through the Veterans Aid and Attendance Program. Qualifying applicants may receive a pension or survivor's benefits, plus additional money to pay for medicine. These benefits may total up to $22,000 per year, tax-free!
Too many assets or too much income can disqualify the veteran or surviving spouse.
The veteran or the veteran's widow/widower must meet five requirements:- The veteran has to have served in the military for one day while at war.
- They must have served in the military for 90 days.
- They must have received better than a dishonorable discharge.
- They must be home-bound (meaning that the veteran or veteran's widow/widower essentially requires full-time care and cannot leave home without assistance).
- The veteran or the widow must need assistance with activities of daily living.
To qualify financially, an applicant must have less than $80,000 in assets, EXCLUDING their home and vehicles.
To qualify medically, a War-Time Veteran or surviving spouse must need the assistance of another person to perform daily tasks, such as eating, dressing, undressing, taking care of the needs of nature, etc. Being blind or in a nursing home for mental or physical incapacity, or residing in an assisted living facility also qualifies.
Eligibility must be proven by filing the proper Veterans Application for Pension or Compensation. This application will require a copy of DD-214 (see below for more information) or separation papers, Medical Evaluation from a physician, current medical issues, net worth limitations, and net income, along with out-of-pocket Medical Expenses.
To find out if you or your spouse qualify, contact your local VSO Officer ( Veteran's Service Office) listed in the phone book.
Talk to an attorney about military law - Live
I have no experience with this web site but it has the option to talk to an attorney online regarding your questions about military law.
There are many questions on that site about the VA Aid and Attendance benefit.
http://www.justanswer.com/questions/2j8f7-mom-qualify-va-aid-attendance
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